Seventeen years among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo; a ... - Sabrizain.org

THREE DYAK LEGENDS 313
no pity for you. As long as you are alive you will give
us trouble, so we intend to kill you and be well rid of
you."
He expected Pulang-Gana to be afraid of him, and to
plead for his life. But things were very much changed
from the old days, when Pulang-Gana was the despised
youngest brother, beaten and scolded by the others.
Now he was the son-in-law of the gods, and had Rajah
Shua and Seregendah to help him, and he was not at all
afraid of his brothers, because he knew well they could
do him no harm.
He shook off those that held him, and told them to
listen to what he had to say. His manner and bearing
were very different from that of one who feared them.
They stood around him in awe, for they instinctively felt
that Pulang-Gana was not to be trifled with, and from
what had already taken place they knew that he was
aided by powerful spirits.
Then Pulang-Gana spoke :—
'
I have good reason for doing what I did. You have
no right to cut down this jungle or to plant on this land.
You have not asked my leave to do so, and have not
paid me the price of the land. Not long ago, you, Bui-
Nasi, gave me a clod of earth as my share of the property
of our father, and so I have now the right of prevent ing
any from planting on the earth. It is no use you attempting
to kill me. Though you are many in numbers, it is
impossible for you to kill me, because I am now the god
of the earth, and am assisted by Rajah Shua and Sere-
gendah, whose power 3^011 know."
There was silence for a short time, and then Bui-Nasi
said :—
" No doubt what you say is true, for no one without